UK potatoes

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Potato Council has announced that it will stage the eighth World Potato Congress in Scotland, UK on 27-30 May 2012.

Last held in New Zealand, the Congress will be a forum for the exchange of international information, with World Potato Congress Inc. (WPC) president Allan Parker saying that attendees would hopefully be able to achieve success having attended.

WPC has appointed Potato Council to stage the event in Scotland, with the UK being described as one of the world's 'most vibrant potato research, breeding, growing and commercial environments'.

'Involvement in WPC 2012 will enable the industry's competitiveness to be improved,' noted Allan Stevenson, chairman of Potato Council. 'The active involvement of growers, potato industry stakeholders and representatives of research and development facilities will allow exploitation of international opportunities.

'I can see potential to initiate and broker research projects through contact with scientific and technical communities,' he added. 'And just as importantly, through the extensive programme of keynote presentations, practical workshops and industry tours, delegates will leave with new ideas and strategies to benefit their businesses in the short term.'